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| Mediator Credentialing |
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Upon completion of the 40 hours of mediation training and certification you will need to become a member of TEXAS MEDIATOR CREDENTIALING ASSOCIATION. Brief History of the TMCA. The Texas Mediator Credentialing Association is an initiative built on years of effort by various mediator groups, including the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Texas, the Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at the University of Texas School of Law, the Texas Association of Mediators, the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, the College of Texas Mediators, the Texas Dispute Resolution Centers Director's Council, the Association of Attorney Mediators and numerous other mediation organizations and individuals throughout Texas who have donated time and energy to establish voluntary, statewide credentialing. Members of these organizations, along with representatives of the public, the judiciary, and education, worked together over a 7-year period to develop the first statewide, voluntary, multi-disciplinary credentialing program in the country. This unique and innovative multi-tiered approach adopts standards of practice and a code of ethics for mediators, while at the same time educating the public on the benefits of mediation and the availability of a grievance process at no cost to the public or the consumer. The following content is from the 2011 -2012 web site of TMCA. TEXAS MEDIATOR CREDENTIALING ASSOCIATION. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR CREDENTIALING. MEANING AND USE OF CREDENTIAL DESIGNATION: Subject to these Terms and Conditions, TMCA grants the Applicant a non-exclusive and non-transferable right to use the Credential Designation granted to the Applicant. The Applicant may only use the Credential Designation exactly as it appears on the Applicant's Certificate of Credential Designation (the "Mark") in association with the Applicant's name on promotional displays and advertising materials. The Applicant may not use a Credential Designation or claim to have obtained a Credential Designation from the TMCA unless the Applicant has completed the credentialing requirements. The Applicant may not use any TMCA logo or mark other than the Mark, and the TMCA reserves the right to deny use of the Mark, the TMCA logo, or any other TMCA mark at its sole discretion, at any time and for any reason. The words, spelling, case of the letters, comparative size of the words and letters, grammar, punctuation, and substance of the Mark may not be modified or altered in any way by the Applicant. The Applicant agrees to immediately terminate the use of any Credential Designation granted by the TMCA at the request or instruction of the TMCA. Such request may be made pursuant to the TMCA Grievance Rules and Procedures or at any time and for any reason determined by the TMCA in its sole and exclusive discretion. Inappropriate use of the Credential Designation will result in the termination of the use of the Applicant's Credential Designation. Such inappropriate use includes by way of example, but is not limited to, using the Credential Designation to mislead, misrepresent, imply or suggest that (1) the Applicant has obtained a Credential Designation that the Applicant has not, (2) the TMCA endorses or recommends the services provided by the Applicant or the Applicant's employees, contractors or affiliates, (3) the TMCA has entered into a joint venture, partnership, or relationship with the Applicant other than having granted a Credential Designation to the Applicant, (4) the Credential Designation has any meaning or use other than that provided in this document, or (5) any other person, organization, or entity is entitled to the use or benefit of the Credential Designation granted to the Applicant. The Applicant acknowledges that, if granted a Credential Designation by the TMCA, the Applicant is not acquiring alicense, registration, or credential by, through, or under a governmental agency, and that the Credential Designation is notbeing acquired pursuant to a government contract. Criteria for Credentials Definitions For the purposes of credential designation requirements, the following definitions shall apply: 1. Annual - a calendar year that begins on the first day of January. 2. Basic 40 hour training - completion of a minimum of 40 classroom hours of training pursuant to Chapter 154.052 (a) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. For those applications submitted after July 1, 2004, all candidates must also attest that their training meets or exceeds the standards of the Texas Mediation Trainer Roundtable. 3. Conducted mediation – a process during which the mediator communicates with the parties to a conflict either together or separately to identify with each known party the issues in dispute and possible solutions, and to encourage and facilitate communication, reconciliation, settlement and understanding between the parties. 4. Mediation or Hours of mediation - refers to 'conducted mediation' as defined above. 5. Observation of a mediation - that the person observed all of the work of a mediator during a conducted mediation without having any other role in that mediation. 6. Training or Continuing education - any training or continuing education approved by the TMCA. The topics of continuing education must relate to the practice of mediation. Each course must involve study of mediation, negotiation, conflict management techniques or theory, or conflict-related topics from communications, psychology and other related disciplines. |
| Credentialed Mediator. | Credentialed Mediator. | Roundtable. | Trainer's Roundtable. | |
| Experience | Candidate must meet all requirements for Credentialed Mediator and, in addition, must have conducted an additional minimum of 180 mediations or an additional 875 hours in mediation. | Candidate must meet all requirements for Credentialed Mediator and, in addition, must have conducted an additional minimum of 30 mediations or an additional 175 hours in mediation | The candidate must have completed 20 mediations or 125 hours in mediation after the basic 40-hour training, which can include observing a Credentialed Mediator for 5 mediations or 30 hours. | Candidates who have completed less than 20 mediations or 125 hours in mediation after the basic 40-hour training are eligible for the designation of candidate for credentialed mediator. |
| Adherence to TMCA Standards, Rules and Procedures | Regardless of level, all candidates must affirm that they have read, understand and will adhere to the TMCA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics as well as the TMCA Grievance Rules and Procedures. |
| Maintenance of TMCA Credential, to maintain a credential, a credential holder must meet the following standards on an annual basis: |
| Annual experience | Conduct a minimum of 25 mediations or 150 hours mediation experience per year. | Conduct a minimum of 10 mediations or 60 hours mediation experience per year. | Conduct a minimum of 3 mediations or 15 hours of mediation per year. | N/A |
| Continuing Education | Complete 15 hours of continuing education per year of which 3 hours must consist of an approved ethics course. Five hours may be substantive course material. Three hours of the total 15 hours may be self-study and/or up to 5 hours by serving as an instructor of mediation training. | Complete 15 hours of continuing education per year of which 3 hours must consist of an approved ethics course. Five hours may be substantive course material. Three hours of the total 15 hours may be self-study and/or up to 5 hours by serving as an instructor of mediation training. | Complete 15 hours of continuing education per year of which 3 hours must consist of an approved ethics course. Five hours may be substantive course material. Three hours of the total 15 hours may be self-study and/or up to 5 hours by serving as an instructor of mediation training. | Complete 10 hours of continuing education annually of which 3 hours must consist of an approved ethics course. This requirement may be partially satisfied by 3 hours of self-study and/or by serving as an instructor for up to 5 hours of mediation training. |
| Other | Make him/herself available to the courts and/or to | Make him/herself available to the courts and/or to | N/A | Candidate status may be maintained for a |
| the public to conduct 5 pro-bono mediations per year. | the public to conduct 2 pro-bono mediations per year. | maximum of four years in order to allow the candidate time to complete the requirements for TMCA Credentialed Mediator. | ||
| Renewal fee | $150 | $125 | $100 | $50 |